Red-crowned cranes are registered as threatened species in the Red Data Book of the International Centre for Birds of Prey. The international society is calling for the protection of these long-necked birds, because their existences are threatened due to habitat destruction. What is endangering these birds, and causing them to desert their original habitats?

DMZ is the only place in the world where people could observe the red-crowned crane, white-naped crane, Siberian white crane, and the hooded cranes hibernating together. However, some people are converting the rice fields into ginseng farms, cattle pens and film houses. Cranes require vast open spaces for hibernation. They cannot escape as fast as other birds, and must detect predators before they approach. Human constructions consume much space and therefore, make it hard for the cranes to find a spot to repose.

Cranes are undiscriminating eaters. However, in the winter, their primary source of food is the rice grain. They consume over 1600 tons of rice grains which can be found in the rice straws that remain in the farmlands after harvest. Because of the recent increase in the price of animal feeds, farmers are selling these rice straws as alternatives. They wrap the rice straws in a bundle and cover them up with plastic so that the birds can't eat them. 

With new technology, the cranes are suffering more. Combines cleanly strip the ears from the rice and chemicals contaminate the rice. The local governments are requesting the farmers to save some grains and straws for the cranes. However, the farmers are angry because the government is forcing them to bear the cost. They refuse to comply with the government, and instead, plow up the soil, causing many cranes starve in the winter. 

Cranes are very sensitive birds. They are wary of the smallest change in movements, and sounds hundreds of meters away because they cannot escape very well. When people create noise by paving roads, driving combines and tractors, and running military drills these birds are extremely stressed. Also, some tourists are not following the proper guidelines for watching birds, talking loudly and flashing their cameras every time they discover a crane.   

It is unfortunate that red-crowned cranes, birds that we adore so much, disappear. Their extinction would mean that humans have severed the natural flow of life that continued from Siberia to Japan for thousands of years. Our ancestors used to save some persimmons for the magpies. They understood that humans should share their harvest with other creatures. We must learn the wisdom of coexistence from our ancestors and leave some grains for the cranes. This should be made feasible by the government by subsidies, and regulations that restrict development in this area.